The march launched by the Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) from Amed (tr: Diyarbakır) to Ankara under the slogan “We walk to freedom with hope” continues on its third day. The women reached the village of Amara, where Abdullah Öcalan was born, in the Halfeti district of Urfa.
When entering the village accompanied by slogans, the women were greeted by Mehmet Öcalan, the brother of the Kurdish leader, and his relatives. While a large poster of Öcalan was hung in the garden of the house where he was born, the women danced to Kurdish songs.
Addressing the crowd, Mehmet Öcalan said, “May your path be clear. This is a sacred march. The women’s movement will go all the way to Ankara and deliver its message there in Parliament. An important message will be delivered for the President and all prisoners.”
DEM Party MP Beritan Güneş Altın said: “On our third day, we are in Amara, the sacred land where the Kurdish freedom struggle began. We commemorate the martyrs of Amara. Thanks to their struggle, we carry the hope of equality and peace today. The voice of international women will achieve its goal. It will secure the freedom of leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is a supporter of peace. Today, we want to expose those who stand in the way of freedom and peace. We now expect the ‘right to hope’ to be secured and Mr. Öcalan’s freedom to be granted. Women here are demanding the freedom of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan. This march is a historic step. This march will yield results and secure the physical freedom of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan.”
After the statement, activists read an excerpt from Öcalan’s perspective on Peace and Democratic Society, then resumed their march towards Ankara.